Government moves toward restricting children’s online access as Australia bans under-16s from social media
The Irish government has announced plans to implement an age verification tool as part of the national digital wallet project, aiming to make online platforms safer for children following Australia’s landmark decision to ban social media for those under 16.
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer is developing the digital wallet’s age verification component in collaboration with the Department of Communications. Minister Patrick O’Donovan announced a pilot project involving 2,000 people will launch in the first three months of next year.
Legislation will require users to verify their age using MyGovID, though individual data will not be shared with internet service providers, addressing privacy concerns that have complicated previous age verification proposals.
Child safety campaigners have long urged the government to force online platforms to disable content harmful to children. However, the Irish Media Commission declined implementing provisions under the Digital Services Act last year, deferring the issue to European-level action.
O’Donovan expressed disappointment that the European Commission has not forced platforms to disable recommender algorithms harmful to children, noting this is not something individual member states can accomplish alone.
Online safety advocates point out that France, Italy, and Spain have already implemented social media restrictions for children, demonstrating that national action is possible within the EU framework.
Australia’s new law prevents under-16s from accessing the ten most popular social media platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, imposing heavy fines on companies that violate the ban. O’Donovan said Ireland is monitoring Australia’s implementation and developing age verification systems accordingly.
The government has not yet proposed a specific minimum age for online access, though O’Donovan personally favors setting it at 16. “We would not allow a child to go to a bar and drink a gin and tonic. The same is true of not allowing children to access bad things online without restriction,” he stated.
O’Donovan acknowledged no European consensus exists on how to proceed on this issue. As president of the European Council of Communications Ministers, he hopes to introduce regulation next year, with child online protection as his department’s central theme.
The announcement follows last week’s indication that the Cabinet would receive updates on the possibility of banning social media for under-16s, with Tánaiste Simon Harris expressing strong support for age-based restrictions.
The digital wallet age verification tool represents Ireland’s attempt to balance child protection with technical feasibility and privacy rights, leveraging the government’s existing digital identity infrastructure rather than requiring platforms to implement independent verification systems.
Critics of age restrictions argue they may prove difficult to enforce, drive young people to less regulated platforms, and require invasive verification systems. Supporters contend that developing brains require protection from addictive algorithms, harmful content, and mental health impacts associated with social media.
The pilot project next year will test technical implementation, user experience, and effectiveness before potential wider rollout. The initiative aligns with Ireland’s broader Digital Public Services Plan approved recently, which aims to digitalize major public services by 2030.